Victor Wembanyama made headlines as he participated in the NBA All-Star Weekend held last year in Indianapolis. As part of this event, he participated in various activities including the Rising Stars event and the Skills Challenge. He expressed his goal for the upcoming year stating, “Next year, hopefully, the big game.”

This year, Wembanyama, now a first-time All-Star, is ready for the NBA’s new All-Star mini-tournament in San Francisco. He will be teaming up with prominent players like Nikola Jokić from the Denver Nuggets, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander from the Oklahoma City Thunder, among others.

Wembanyama’s rise as a global sensation comes after being crowned the league’s rookie of the year, having significant social media engagement and a leading spot in jersey sales. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver commented on Wembanyama’s stellar popularity, mentioning an instance where Wembanyama played chess at a park in New York, which gained 100 million views online.

There are six rookies participating in the All-Star game this year, including Wembanyama, Alperen Sengun, Tyler Herro, Evan Mobley, Cade Cunningham, and Jalen Williams. Each of these players has contributed significantly to their respective teams this season, making them worthy of being All-Stars.

Cunningham noted the emotional journey leading to this moment, saying, “It’s a great feeling. It’s hard to put words on it.”

From celebrating team victories to overcoming personal challenges, these players symbolize the spirit of the NBA today.